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Revealing the

Celebrity in You

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LASER AND IPL (INTENSE PULSED LIGHT)?

The key difference between laser and IPL is the type of light used. IPL is a broadband pulsed light source, whereas laser is a monochromatic coherent light source. Both methods target the melanin in the hair follicle and deliver permanent results. Professional laser treatment is a more selective process and therefore the very high energy will focus on the hair follicle rather than surrounding skin. Because of this, professional laser treatments will lead to fast results as well as being suitable to darker skin tones. Energy, frequency and hair color are all determining factors in the efficacy of the treatment, while the light source, whether it is a laser or an intense pulsed flash light plays a minor role. 

Laser

Monochromatic coherent light source

Is laser hair removal or IPL better?

IPL uses a broad spectrum of light. This targets the hair’s melanin pigment and heats the hair up, causing damage to the follicles. 

Laser hair removal heats up the hair and damages the hair follicles with light energy. The laser focuses on a smaller area and often travels further into the pore. The light used with lasers is concentrated more finely on an area where the hair is being removed, increasing its effectiveness and decreasing the potential for side effects

Laser hair removal is definitely a more aggressive treatment. It penetrates deeper into the pores giving you better results. This means you may require fewer treatments to get your desired outcome.

IPL on the other hand doesn’t solely focus on hair so you may require more treatments to stop your hairs from growing back.

IPL can be a very slow and tedious treatment because it’s performed in pulses, whereas laser is very quick because it’s performed in motion. 

Average treatment times of IPL vs Laser:

Treatment Area

IPL treatment time

Laser treatment time

Legs

60 minutes

20 minutes

Under Arms

15 minutes

5 minutes

Back

45 minutes

15 minutes

Brazilian

30 minutes

10 minutes

The average woman spends 72 entire days of her life or 1,728 hours, just shaving her legs alone! 

The time savings and improved quality of life are substantial with the treatment of permanent hair reduction with either IPL treatments or Laser treatments. 

IPL typically has higher amounts of discomfort, whereas laser hair removal is virtually pain-free.

We’ve pulled out the most common treatment areas and the average treatment pain rating on a scale of 0 (no pain) – 10 (worst pain you’ve ever had) below with lighter skin colour and dark hair.

Treatment Area

IPL treatment pain rating

Laser treatment pain rating

Legs

6

2

Under Arms

5

1

Back

7

2

Brazilian

7

2



Conclusion: Laser technology is simply much more effective and achieves substantially better results than IPL with most clients achieving optimal results of permanent hair removal of 80% or greater after four to eight treatments. 

Services

Products

We use certified skincare products at Riverstone Laser. Our top-rated products range from leading skincare brands to help target specific skin concerns and revitalize your look.

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About Us

We use high quality state-of-the art Alma Soprano laser in our beauty Clinic. Our Clinical team put you at ease and ensure your comfort throughout the procedure. We offer a variety of treatments tailored for each person in clean and Safe environment.

We provide services to women only.

Contact

Phone: 604-621-8311

Email: info@riverstonelaser.com

Address: 2961 Townline Road, Abbotsford, BC, V2T 5J8